May 15, 2013
Agricultural Industries Confederation introduces feed calculator
UK''s Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC), together with a working group from Femas, its feed materials assurance scheme, and feed supply chain representatives, has developed ''Femas Calculator''.
The development of the calculator is a direct response to feed safety concerns and the 2011 Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) mission to the UK.
Simon Williams, AIC Services Technical Manager said, "The Food Standards Agency (FSA) had some concerns over the analysis that participants in our schemes were carrying out. We have responded by developing this monitoring ''calculator'' which defines minimum sampling and testing frequencies across a range of undesirable substances in feedingredients.
"The calculator is intended to provide a minimum baseline for monitoring undesirable substances in feed ingredients and takes into account the categorisation of feed materials as well as other parameters. The calculator does not replace individual businesses'' risk assessments."
It is intended that use of the calculator will become a compulsory part of the FEMAS scheme in due course, but in the meantime AIC is making the calculator available to members to allow them to familiarise themselves and provide feedback.
Williams says, "It is important that AIC responds to any concerns that the regulatory authorities have, while helping to limit the additional burden placed on member companies. The calculator is a good example of the kind of tools we can provide to achieve this."